Of the 4,200 residents of Sonagachhi, Asia's largest red-light district, 1,300 were removed from the electoral rolls, reinforcing concerns that many socially and economically disadvantaged women failed to meet the required criteria.
Judicial Hearings and Rejections
During judicial adjudication, cases for 850 women from Sonagachhi were heard. All but one were rejected. These deletions occurred despite the Election Commission's announcement that special public hearings would be held for these trafficked or abandoned women who lacked documents to prove family ties.
Sex Workers Speak Out
A sex worker, aged around 65, who has lived in Sonagachhi for the past 35 years, told TOI, "Whatever documents I had—Aadhaar, PAN, bank account details and rent receipts—I submitted all. But I was not granted voting rights. They asked for a birth certificate; where will I bring it from?" Like her, several women in Sonagachhi will not be allowed to vote on Wednesday as they lack papers tracing their past.
A 51-year-old sex worker managed to get her two sons' names included, but hers was deleted. Bisakha Laskar, secretary of NGO Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, said, "My son's name and mine were also deleted even after we submitted documents, including passports."
Official Assurances and Claims
CEO Manoj Agarwal had visited the red-light area and assured sex workers of relief. According to the EC, special hearings allowed election officers to hear pleas and pass a reasoned order on inclusion or deletion. However, sex workers here claimed no such public hearing took place.
Similar Situation in Bowbazar
A similar story unfolds in the city's other red-light area, Bowbazar, also known as Har Kata Goli, in Ward 48 of Chowringhee Assembly constituency. The local BLA-2, Nandini Ballav, said, "More than 60 sex workers in my part have been removed. Some are applying as new voters and some moved the tribunal." She confirmed that deleted sex workers attended a public hearing and submitted whatever papers they had.
Sex Workers' Plight
A sex worker from Bowbazar said, "I came here almost 25 years ago with two kids after my husband's death. I have voted from here several times. I have Aadhaar and voter cards but no document of my parents or husband." Another sex worker said, "I have been here since my childhood. How can I have parental documents? This is absurd and painful."
Political Reaction
Even Chowringhee Trinamool candidate Nayna Bandyopadhyay said, "Asking sex workers for fathers' documents is humiliating and insulting."
